History of Nutter's Fork Community

(Doddridge County, West Virginia)

By Lily Smith Corathers

Location and Topography

Nutter's Fork Community lies north of West Union, and
principally north-northeast of Middle Island Creek, in Doddridge
County, it is nearly all within the bounds of Precinct No. 2, West
Union Magisterial District, with Pine Run school house as its
voting place. It is sometimes spoken of as the "Solid North", owing
to its predominant political sentiment.

This rough, hilly section is well watered. Middle Island, the
River of Many Windings, flows near the southwestern border for four
of five miles before entering Tyler County. Its main tributaries in
in the community are Piggin Run, cedar Run, Nutter's Fork, and
Slaughter Run. Of these Nutter's Fork is much the largest. It is
some six miles or more in length and has several branches, Chipps
Run being the most important. Others are Gorby Run, Pine Run, Tom's
Run, and Bulltown Run.Camp Misery, the headwaters of Knight's Fork,
Little Flint, and Camp Mistake are also within the borders of the
community. It is interesting to learn how these streams were
named.

Nutter's Fork, Chipps Run, Gorby Run, and Knight's Fork were so
called from their early settlers; Cedar Run and Pine Run for their
trees; and Tom's Run, prpbably for the reason that it once belonged
to Thomas Smith, Sr., who owned more than fifteen hundred acres of
land in this locality. Camp Mistake got its name from some hunters
who made a mistake in choosing their camp site. Camp Misery, a
small branch of Knight's Fork, was a real camp misery to the many
deer hunters there who were tormented by vast swarms of flies and
mosquitoes. (A "deer lick" at that place attracted great numbers of
deer which fell prey to the hunter's rifle.

The earliest name of Chipps Run was Wolf Pen, a pen to trap
wolves being located near its mouth. Gorby run was first called
Broth Run. The story is that some men in trying to boil a wild
turkey overturned the pot and spilled the broth into the stream.
Bulltown Run takes its name from the local oil field known as the
Bulltown field.

Another body of water that has attracted much attention is "The
Bog" in the southwestern side of the community. It is the bed of an
ancient curve in Middle lsland Creek where a narrow ridge forced
the waters to traverse a distance of about two miles i order to
make a progress of only a few feet. Finally the creek cut through
the ridge leaving the loop to become the marshy depression known
since pioneer days as "The Bog." ("The Jug" in Tyler County is
another noted bend in the same stream.)

A few years ago a development company bought part of the Bog and
adjacent territory from the Coleman family. A dam was built across
the outlet and a large lake was formed, which is called Crystal
Lake. Several cottages and a commodious club house have been built
on its shores. Far and near it is noted as the beauty spot of the
vicinity. The County Four-H Camp was first held at Crystal lake
during the summer of 1927.

Hunters and Game

The tracks of the savage Indian were barely cold on the hills
and along the streams when the bold pioneer made his way into the
region described. There abundant evidence as to the presence of the
Red Man here prior to the coming of the White Man. Many arrow heads
and other relics have been found. On of the most interesting
"finds" of late years is an Indian war club picked up by Charles E.
Maxwell on the William Freeman farm.

Likely the same thing called the Indian to this region that
later lured the white man-the abundance of game. No doubt the bison
once roamed over these hills. Bear were plentiful, feeding upon
acorns and other nuts of the forest, together with berries and an
occasional store of wild honey . An old "bear willow" in the
community shows where Bruin had his bath when so inclined.

Deer were here in large numbers for many years after the whites
came. It was no uncommon thing to see the carcass of a deer swung
from each of the four corners of a settler's cabin. A fawn was
sometimes caught and tamed, becoming the pet of the family. What
sorrow when a strange hunter mistook this pet for a wild deer!

Wolves must have been troublesome to the early dweller in these
hills. Wolf Pen Run and, not far away, Wolf Run are reminiscent of
their existence.

The older residents of this community now tell the story of Rock
Run Billy Davis and Snowden Kinney who killed an enormous wolf with
an axe. There was some kind of neighborhood gathering, alo-rolling
perhaps, at what is now known as the Ford farm. (Snowden Kinney,
Sr., lived there at the time.) The wolf came along and was at once
set upon by all the dogs that were present. They soon brought it to
bay in a corner of a worm fence. In spite of all they could do the
dogs failed to dislodge the wolf, but were severely slashed every
time they got within reach of its murderous fangs. At last Davis
noticed the animal's tail protruding from a crack in the fence,
whereupon he proceeded to get a firm handhold on that member, while
Kinney got an axe and started to help the dogs. After having one
leg badly lacerated, Kinney dealt the blow which brought Sir Wolf
to his untimely end.

Another wolf story told by the writer's great-aunt, Mrs. Hiram
Smith, Sr., runs as follows: Many years ago when her mother was a
tiny baby, so her parents said, the father had to be away until
late at night. The young mother was left alone with her infant
daughter in the unfinished cabin home. There was no floor of
ceiling. Loose timbers lay upon the joists in a few places. A
blanket hung over the entrance to shut out the cold night air.

Presently in the distance, the howling of a wolf pack was heard.
A moment's listening convinced the mother that there was possible
danger. Getting upon the bed, she managed to climb to the joists,
dragging the baby with her. Nearer and nearer came the noisy pack,
until they reached the cabin and came snarling through the
blanket-covered doorway. When they discovered their prey far above
them, they jumped upon the bed and leaped for the young woman. Time
and time the great jaws snapped as a big fellow missed her only by
inches. But she was safe. When the husband came home he found his
wife and baby girl roosting high and unharmed overhead. The hungry
pack had passed on to more promising hunting ground.

An extreme case, perhaps, but it illustrates the hardships and
dangers that attended pioneer life.

The panther was also a menace to the early farmer. ("Painter, he
called it".) It was Uncle Moses Weekley, who killed the largest
panther living in the folk tales of the community. Wildcats,
catamounts, foxes, and the smaller woodfolk made this country a
"Hunters Paradise".

Wild turkey, pheasant, quail, woodcock, and, it may be, wild
duck (on the Bog) were the principal game birds.

There were fishing to satisfy the most devoted follower of Izaak
Walton. The larger streams were teeming with fish. Catfish, pike,
bass, perch, and many others were found in plenty. It has been told
that as late as seventy-five years ago large fish could be picked
up by hand in the "holes" of Nutter's Fork, after having been tired
by the fisherman wading after them.

Now all the wild animals are gone except a few of the smaller
ones; some of the smaller birds are left; and an occasional fish is
taken in Middle Island. Fear of the game warden seems to be a
hopeful sign in this community today, insofar as preservation of
game is concerned.

Early Settlers

It is not known exactly who first settled in this part of the
country. Over one hundred years ago, the three Sears brothers had
built their cabins on what is now the Joseph Freeman and Coleman
lands. One of the three was named Hiram, who lived on the present
James Coleman place with his wife and two sons, Squire and
Holdredge.

A man named Haymond bought the present Coleman farm and
established his wife and daughter there with a Negro servant, Jim,
who was a slave. Haymond seems to have been an extensive cattle
raiser and shipper, and was quite well-to-do. He did not make his
home here, but cane occasionally with cattle. It is probable that
he had the brick residence built which later became the home of
Otho Coleman and is now occupied by Coleman's son, William. The
Colemans came from Maryland.

Thomas Smith, Sr. , of German descent, moved from Greene County,
Pennsylvania, to Barnesville, Ohio, thence to Tyler County, Western
Virginia, and finally to the Sears lands near the Bog. Here he had
a brick house erected which he later sold to his son-in-law,
Eleazer Sr., it passed into the hands of his son, the late Joseph
Freeman, whose widow now owns property.

It is said that when Mr.Freeman came to pay for the Smith farm,
he carried his saddle Bags full of silver coin to make the payment.
He was one of the most prominent farmers and stockmen in the
community. Many of his descendants still are living in this
country.

After Thomas Smith sold this farm he built another home nearer
the creek, where he lived for many years. He was the largest land
holder in the region, having taken a "Patent" on a large scope of
wilderness land. His children, twelve in number, built their homes
upon this land, much of which remains in the hands of his
descendants today.

So far as is known, the oldest member of this Smith family of
pioneers was "Grandmother Lettie," the widowed mother of Thomas
Smith , Sr. She lived in his home for a time, and delighted the
numerous youngsters with her stories of Indian times, life in a
fort, and the final conquest of the Red Men by the Palefaces.
"Lettie" was a remarkably active old lady, being able to walk for
miles on visits after she had passed the century mark. She lived to
be one hundred six years old.

About a mile below the Thomas Smith , Sr. home on Middle Island,
Jacob Ripley had established his home. Mrs. Elizabeth Drane, of
West Union, Mrs, Emma Strickling and Miss Maggie Ripley, of
Memphis, Tennessee, are surviving granddaughters, being the
children of William Ripley, Jacob's son. The Ripley farm is now the
home of H. Walter Smith, farmer, and a great grandson of Thomas,
Sr.

John Smith, Sr., a brother of Thomas, had built his home about a
mile farther down the creek, by a small brook lying between lower
Nutter's Fork and Slaughter Run. This place is now known as the
Jacob C. Smith farm. Charles D. Cottrill, a son-in-law of Jacob C.
Smith and also a farmer, resides there.

Just across the creek opposite the mount of Slaughter was the
prosperous home of Tom Bond, Sr. He was a slave-holder. It is said
that slaves set fire to his barn, burning it and two of his
children. There are none of his descendants in the community. Later
this farm belonged to J. N. Wolverton, a prominent teacher,
surveyor, and farmer; and it is now in the hands of W.F. Smith, of
West Union.

A little farther down stream and on the same side was the early
home of Amos and Elizabeth Collins Keys, also large slave owners.
Here was the mill where the grain of the community was ground. The
mill was run by water power except when the creek was low, when a
"thread wheel" supplied the power.

A carding machine also belonged to the Keys family. This machine
prepared the wool for the spinning wheel by making long rolls of
it. After the wool was spun, the wives and daughters wove it into
cloth and blankets, or knit warm stockings and mittens for the
entire household.

The kindness of Aunt Betty Keys is remembered by the old folks.
The small boys of the pioneer family usually "went to mill" where
they had to wait many weary hours before their grinding was done.
It was Aunt Betty's custom to spread large slices of "wheat bread"
with honey or other delectable spreads and hand them out to the
hungry urchins. This was some compensation for the disagreeable
task of going to mill.

There were seven children in the Keys home, only two of whom
married, so far as can be learned E.M.B., and Cynthia Keys Joseph.
A few of their descendants are found in adjoining counties. Creed
Keys lives near Camp. But the old home is no more a home.

Nearly a mile up Nutter's Fork from its junction with Middle
Island was the home of Leonard Kelch, who lived but a few years. It
later became the homestead of William, son of Thomas Smith Sr., and
Margaret Doak Smith, who moved there soon after their marriage in 1
1844. Here they reared a family of eleven children who became
successful men and women in their respective vocations. William was
a farmer, stock raiser, and buyer and shipper of livestock. Some of
his sons followed the same lines of work. One son., S.P. Smith who
now resides in West Union with his wife, Edith Martin Smith, and
their three sons, is well known as a farmer, teacher, business man,
writer, and editor of ability. The old home became the property of
another son, David M. Smith whose family still owns it, though it
is occupied by a tenant at the present time.

Discussion of the William Smith family must not end without a
few remarks concerning the old mother, Margaret. She was a
remarkable woman of great resolution and strength of character.
Hers was the local home of the preacher of the Christian Church
when he made his regular visits to the neighborhood. A splendid
cook, her biscuit making became famous. She was a rapid worker.
Once a friend times her in preparing a young chicken for dinner.
She is said to have completed the job and had the "fryer" on the
table in fifteen minutes.

At the time Leonard Kelch lived here, there was another cabin
home near the mouth of Chipps Run on Nutter's Fork that was
occupied by William Tucker. He and his family lived here for some
time, after which Isaac, oldest son of Thomas Smith Sr., with his
wife, Sarah Ann Corathers, moved in to establish their home. Eleven
children were born, all of whom grew up, married, and reared
families.

The best known of the Isaac Smith family is the Rev. Thomas J.
Smith, who, on July 24, 1927 reached his eighty-first birthday. For
more than fifty years he has been a preacher in the Christian
Church and its strong financial supporter. He has been a successful
farmer, too. Though now retired, he still does a large amount of
farm work "just to help the boys out and to keep in fit physical
condition." The State Legislature claimed his services for one
term. He has traveled east to Boston, Washington, and other points
of interest. In a recent tour he covered the most interesting parts
of central and western United States and visited his son, E.Erwin,
who has a good position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture at
Seattle, Washington. (Irwin received the degree of B.S. Agr. from
West Virginia University shortly after his return from France,
where he served with the A.E.F. in the "Buckeye" Division.)

Rev. Thomas Smith has two younger brothers surviving, Joseph and
Isaac M. Their father passed away nearly fifty years ago leaving a
record of a clean, honorable, industrious life. The mother lived a
few years longer, spending most of her time in caring for the sick
and needy. No one was ever turned away from her door, and she was
always ready to divide her last mouthful of food. The Christian
Church stands just across the road from the site of the old Isaac
Smith home, which was destroyed by fire more than thirty years
ago.

Zuleka Davis, the first wife of the Rev. Mr. Smith, deserves
mention in these pages. Without her help and sacrifices in the
early years his success could not have been so great. She was a
noble , helpful Christian woman, often inconveniencing herself to
let her daughters assist a sick neighbor. Many preachers,
travelers, and other visitors were entertained in her hospitable
home. In later life, the Rev. Mr. Smith married Susan Owens, who
likewise was a splendid woman.

Coming back to pioneer days, tradition tells that the very
earliest settler on Nutter's Fork was a man by the name of Nutter,
for whom the stream was named. He and his family lived on what is
now the Gordon W. Kinney farm. His cabin stood near the present
site of the "old house" below Mr. Kinney's residence. Little is
known of Mr. Nutter, except that he died there at the time of the
"great storm" which literally swept the country about one hundred
years ago. (The Thomas Smith , Sr. brick house was partly blown
down, and much timber was destroyed.) Mr. Nutter's remains were
carried by hand-partly on a hand-sled-to the Smith farm, where they
rest today near a few other graves on the hillside near Crystal
Lake. (The Coleman Cemetery had not yet been established .) The
Nutters came from Barbour County.

At about the time the Nutter family settled here, Benjamin
Knight built his log cabin on what was later called the William
Freeman farm, now owned by the William Freeman heirs. This cabin
stood about a mile below the Nutter home. After the Rev. Mr.
Knight, who was a local Methodist Episcopal preacher, had lived
here for some years, his easier circumstances permitted him to
build a larger home of hewed logs for his growing family. The ruin
of this old home still stands as a mute witness to the industry and
frugality which made life in the wilderness possible.

At this time there is no record of the later life of Benjamin
Knight. He had one son whose name was Henry. This son married
Jennie Sandy who lived on Sandy's Run in Tyler County. Henry and
his wife made their home on Little Flint above the present Canton
post office. Their lives were filled with toil and sacrifice, as
were the lives of all early settlers in those hills. They succeeded
in acquiring considerable property, at the same time reared a
family of none children.

Of these children one should be especially mentioned-Malinda
Ellen Knight, who became the wife of R. Breckinridge White, of
Lewis County, and who was the mother of two of the well known
educators in West Virginia-H.S. White, President of Shepherd
College State Normal School, President of the West Virginia State
Educational Association, lecturer and author of note; and his
equally distinguished brother, H. Laban White, Extension Director
of Glenville Normal School, and also an author and public speaker
of note. These young men, products of West Virginia University,
rose to their present positions through their own efforts, the
proverbial silver spoon being providentially omitted.

W.H.S. White chose as his life companion Grace Eliza Yoke, a
graduate of West Virgjnia University and woman of poetical ability.
Nan Leigh Cox, a young lady of culture and refinement, became the
bride of Laban White.

The father of these young men (and their two sisters, Mrs.
Forrest Kinney and Ada, the later deceased,) R.B. White, and his
two brothers, Letcher and O. Griffin, came here from Lewis County
in the early eighties. They were engaged in saw-milling; and
Griffin ran a store and a blacksmith shop at the Ora D. Underwood
place, as the location is now called. Griffin moved away, but
Letcher married Dorcas Doak and still lives on Knight's Fork where
he is farming and preaching occasionally for the local churches.
The Whites came of Revolutionary stock. The great -grandfather of
R.B. was Alexander White of New Jersey, a Captain in the Army of
the Revolution.

Returning to local pioneers, the writer finds that Sammy Knight,
a brother of Benjamin Knight, was the first to found a home on
Knight's Fork. From him the little stream takes its name. Little is
known of him and his family. One daughter married Ben Jeffrey, and
they made their early home where Letcher White now resides.

A little later Richard Spencer came from the Indian Creek
country and built his cabin where his grandson, Gordon Spencer now
lives. There were five children in this home. The three sons, all
Union soldiers, married and reared families, the present Spencer
families being their descendants.

Another home built on the headwaters of a prong of Knight's Fork
some years previous to the Civil War was that of Thomas H. and
Rebecca Robinson McKinney, who came from Barbour County. They were
hard-working folk who with difficultly wrested a living from the
little hill farm. Nine children grew up in this little cabin. Many
of their progeny are now found in the community.

Luther McKinney, a brother of Thomas H., lived for several years
on Knight's Fork. While living here he and Ben Davis, of Camp
Mistake, were one unfortunate day, companions on a hunting trip.
They were trying to get a squirrel for Luther's sick brother, when
Luther felled a tree which struck and killed Davis. Luther almost
lost his mind, and, though he lived to be an old man, he never
recovered entirely from the shock.

Charley Doak, another Union solider, acquired the Ben Jeffrey
farm and reared a large family, many of whose members still reside
in this country.

Probably the first settler on Camp Mistake was Benjamin Davis
(not the Davis of the fatal squirrel hunt), who lived near the
present William ("Ib") Pratt home. Here he reared a family. One of
his sons, Felix, was a merchant.

John Knight, ancestry unknown, lived at the head of Camp
Mistake, Smith Freeman, son of Eleazer, Sr., purchased this land
after he had sold his farm on Nutter's Fork to his brother-in- law,
Hamilton Doak. Here the Freeman family grew up, three sons and five
daughters, to go out and found homes of their own. The ancestral
home is still in the hands of the family, Charles Freeman residing
at the original house site.

Robert and Josey Scott were early residents of Camp Mistake.
Their brother James made his home on a branch of Knight's Fork
nearby. They came from Monongalia County, as did David Chipps, the
first settler on Chipps Run. Some of the Scott family are yet here.
Rebecca Scott married Robert Noon whose home was on Camp Mistake
for some years. A son, Bob, was a member of the Clarksburg police
force a few years ago, the family having moved to Harrison
County.

John R. Kemper, father of P.G. Kemper of Shirley, lived at Camp
and kept a general store. He was United Brethren preacher. Later he
moved to Smithburg or to Morgansville, where he spent several
years. He served as a member of the House of Delegates from this
county.

Thomas and William ("Ib") Pratt were among the later arrivals to
found homes on Camp Mistake. They came from Pratt's Run some
forty-five or fifty years ago. Thomas and his wife, Elizabeth
Dawson Pratt, were prosperous farm folk, who built a pleasant home
and brought up a large family of boys. These sons have gone out
into the world as business men, teachers, and industrial managers
of various enterprises. Only one son, E.M. Pratt, with his wife ,
Una Smith Pratt, and their daughters, Wanda and Gertrude, and his
invalid mother, remain on the farm. Mr. Pratt is a up-to-date
farmer, the head of the Livestock Shipper's Association in this
county, and president of the community organization. Both daughters
are teachers and expect to get their degrees with the class of '29
at West Virginia University.

William ("Ib") Pratt also lived on a farm. He engaged in the
mercantile business for many years. Later his sons took charge of
the business, which they still handle in connection with the Camp
post office.

Ben Smith lives at Camp, where he owned and operated a grist
mill more than forty years ago.

Rev. Moses Weekley, pioneer settler of Slaughter Run, lived in
Camp during his declining years.

David Chipps and his wife, Katy Russell Chipps, made their home
on the head of Chipps Run, where their son, the aged S.C. Chipps,
now resides. S.C. has three brothers and a sister, none of whom
live here.

Just after the earliest settlements on Nutter's Fork, Hiram
Smith, a son of Thomas Sr., established his home on Chipps Run
where his grandson Hiram Underwood now lives. He and his wife Sarah
Ann Doak Smith, were among the well-to-do farm people of that time.
They had a large family, some of the sons still residing here.

Hiram Smith was a prisoner of war at Andersonville. He and a
companion, Dave Kinney, made their way home after having escaped
enemy's country, they hid by day and traveled by night, living on
raw corn or whatever food they could pick up. Later they rejoined
their regiment and served till the end of the war.

John Smith, a brother of Hiram, and his wife, Lydia Jarvis
Smith, also made their early home on Nutter's Fork. Their cabin
stood by the "old well" near the present Nutter's Fork bridge
opposite Rolandus McKinney's residence. After a few years they
moved to his father's, Thomas Smith, Sr's home on Middle Island.
Here John built a mill and a milldam to supply the needed water
power. Some time after, he sold the mill to Morgan Gorby who made a
home nearby. Then John and Lydia Smith reared nine children. Frank
and William (Billy) of West Union are their sons, Through business
reverses the aged John Smith seems to have lost most of his
property. He spent his last years with his widowed sister, Eliza
Smith, at the J.C. Smith farm. She was the wife of Captain Jacob
Smith. Their two children were James and Lenora.

"James Smith and Sons" is a well known firm of lumber dealers in
West Union. They handle building supplies and operate a planing
mill. James' sister, Lenora, became the wife of Jacob C. Smith of
Tyler County, who later a prominent farmer and business man in this
community. They lived for many years on the John Smith, Sr., farm
described above, which is now known as the J.C. Smith farm and is
occupied by their daughter and son-in-law, C.D. Cottrill. J.C.
Smith still lives at McKim, Tyler County, where his wife died but a
few years ago. Mrs. Joseph Freeman, of West Union, is his
sister.

Among the descendants of John Smith, the Second, the millwright
previously mentioned, was a grandson, Ira E. Smith, son of Frank
and Martha Allen Smith, who now live in West Union. Ira E. is a
prominent banker and politician in this district. He served his
district in the State Senate during a recent term. His only son,
Claud, has just received an appointment as Assistant Bank Examiner
for this district, he having had several years banking experience
under his father.

Another of the old time residents of Nutter's Fork was John
Kinney, Sr., who, we believe came here from Greene County,
Pennsylvania and lived for a time in the house near the present
Nutter's Fork bridge where John Smith had once made his home. (It
may be that Kinney lived there before Smith.) There were three sons
in this Kinney family, George, a carpenter; Israel, who probably
made his home on the land once occupied by Mr. Nutter, now the farm
of his grandson, G.W. Kinney; and Snowden, whose residence was
across the creek from the mouth of Cedar Run-the present Ford farm
(where the large wolf was killed). Snowden was the father of John
Kinney who married Deborah Bond and lived many years near the old
home, rearing a large family of children. Mrs. Ernest Ford is one
of the daughters.

Barney Bond married Polly Smith, daughter of Thomas, Sr. They
founded a home near the outlet of the Bog. A large pine tree still
stands where their dooryard was-a silent sentinel. Just across the
road is a deep bend in Middle Island known to every schoolboy as
the "Barney Hole". Deborah Bond, previously mentioned, was a
daughter of Barney and Polly Bond. Another daughter,
Elizabeth-"Pop"-was the wife of Squire Sears. Their home for a time
was at the John Kinney place which is now owned by Jacob C.
Smith.

Morgan Gorby also married one of the Bond girls, Lettie, by
name. He had bought the mill above Bond's , and they lived near it
for a good while. Afterwards they moved to the head of Gorby Run
where a large family grew up, but few of their descendants remain
here. At present no one lives on Gorby Run. The old home is in
ruins, and the fields (in part) are thickets of wild blackberry
vines yielding a luscious harvest to all who will gather the
fruit.

James (Jimmy) Magill resided at one time in the old house near
the bridge opposite the site of the present Rolandus McKinney home.
He also lived on the Jacob Ripley farm where his son, T. Wayman,
was born. This son married Mahala, daughter of Isaac Smith. They
made a home on Chipps Run, then went to Ritchie County and thence
to Ross County, Ohio. Their oldest son, William, is a retired
teacher, prominent in business and farming enterprises of his Ohio
home section. The parents lie buried in Ohio.

At some rather early period of our history, J.B. Markey acquired
a part of the old Snowden Kinney farm on Middle Island, where he
and his wife resided for some time. They sold out to James Ford and
moved to West Union where he became a merchant. The Markey name has
been known in the business world ever since.

The Fords are an old family. They came here from Virginia and
have been a valued addition to the community. Several sons and
daughters grew to maturity in the home of James Ford and his wife,
Talitha. Sam L. Ford, one of the sons, became a leader in the
raising of purebred livestock. He was a prominent farmer, served a
term as sheriff of Doddridge County, and was a member of the Board
of Directors of Salem College-an honor which has devolved upon his
son, Glenn L.

Glenn L. Ford has been identified with the farmers organizations
of the county, has been a livestock raiser and a progressive fruit
grower, and has served as president of the community organization.
He was appointed county agent in Upshur County early in the spring
of 1928.

Another son of James Ford is Ernest, who resides on the old home
place. He too is a farmer and upbuilder of the community.

Miss Eva Ford, a sister of Glenn L., is an instructor of French
in Alfred University.

On Piggin Run, of which we have not yet written, William
Ashburn, Sr., was the first settler, his home being located where
Dave Underwood now resides. He came from Greene County.
Pennsylvania, at about the time of the early settlement on Nutter's
Fork, and obtained a large tract of land which in time became the
homesteads of his children as they married and left the parental
roof. In this family were two boys, Josephus and Amaziah, both of
whom were prominent in their day. There were two daughters, one of
whom died in her youth. The other Alcinda, married Jerry Knight and
became the mother of Flave J. Knight whose home is a part of the
original William Ashburn, Sr., lands. There was, too, a
step-daughter, Abbie, who never married.

William Ashburn, Sr., was a well educated man. He was the first
school teacher in this part of the country, teaching in his own
home prior to the erection of school buildings. His own children
received their instruction from him. Josephus became a teacher,
preacher, and philosopher. Following in the steps of his father, he
also taught school in his early home; then at the Haymond, and
later at the Rock Run Hill School. These were called subscription
schools, each pupil paying a specified tuition, most likely in some
kind of farm produce.

An old citizen tells this story illustrative of the character of
the Rev. Josephus Ashburn. He had been chosen as a delegate to a
convention, probably at Wheeling. The Rev. Ashburn was on hand
early, wearing his derby hat and best suit of clothes. A stylish
wag, thinking to have some entertainment for himself and friends,
addressed the old gentleman from the "back country"as follows:

"How do you do, my good man? And where might you hail from?"
"From London, England, Sir"came the amazing reply. "And how did you
leave everybody over there?' "Fine, Sir. Just fine." "And what, may
I ask, is everybody doing over there?' "Attending to his own
business, Sir, Attending to his own business," Rev. Ashburn
replied, as he turned from his tormentor to the consideration of
more serious matters. His home was where Oriles (Jack) Hoalcraft
now lives near the head of Piggin Run. One of his sons, Falvius J.
Ashburn, was a popular educator, who died in a far-western state a
few years ago.

Amaziah, the other son of William Ashburn, Sr., was a talented
man who studied and practiced medicin. He became a well-known and
successful doctor of the courageous old country type. His home at
the present F.J. Knight location. Here he and his wife, Margaret,
lived for many years and brought up their family of five boys, some
of whom still live in this county.

Dr. Ashburn was a Union soldier, serving as a physician with the
14th Virginia (W.Va.) Infantry, if we are correctly informed. He
was a prisoner at Andersonville, where he ministered as best he
could to the needs of his suffering comrades. He seemed never to
forget those dark days of misery.

He did a great deal for the health of the people in his home
community. Though he was kept busy most of the time, he never
amassed a great deal of property. The reason is obvious. He worked
for the patient's sake and not for his own. It is said that Dr.
Asburn would go anywhere he was called, even though he knew he
would never receive a cent for his services. And he furnished the
medicine besides! His books showed hundreds of dollars in
uncollectible accounts.

Of his sons, the best known (though all are well known) perhaps,
is O. A., who has been a successful teacher, County Superintendent
of Schools, State Senator, and business man. Another son, Francis,
was a teacher, and later a preacher. Mrs. Oley Williams, a valued
community member, is a direct descendant of Dr. Ashburn.

Again going back to earlier days, William Bland built the first
cabin on the head waters of Nutter's Fork about 1840. Soon after, a
man named Hitchcock also lived in a cabin on the site of Roy
Griffin's present home. This land became the Ephraim Bee farm and
was later sold to Robert McClain (father of P.B. McClain) who
erected the house which is still standing. Later it was owned by
Edgar Davission from whom it passed into the hands of his daughter,
Mrs. Griffin.

Jacob Swentzel was another old settler on upper Nutter's Fork.
The Swentzels of this part of the state are his descendants.

Another family which contributed to the early life of the same
section was that of Spencer Pernell, whose home was on the head of
Little Flint Run. He had two sons, James who founded his home where
Emerson Knight now lives; and Joseph, the first settler on Bulltown
at the Hamilton Doak place. It is said that the latter was a
whale-hunter with marvelous stories of adventure to tell. Among the
descendants of the Pernells are Mrs. Roxalina Kinney (mother of
G.W. Kinney) and Israel Pernell. Later the Whites, Vincents,
Williams's, Bakers and Smiths lived in this Upper Nutter's Fork
neighborhood. There have been many others of whom there is no
historic trace.

Another family which not previously mentioned is the Strickling
family, one of the most influential in the early history of the
community. Dr. William and Matilda Strickling came here from Ohio,
via Shirley where they lived a short while about the time of the
Civil War. They founded their home at what is known as the
Strickling Farm, now owned by John and Eleazer Freeman. Here they
raised a family of nine children-eight boys and one girl. Dr.
Strickling was a a teacher and one of the first County
Superintendent, he was also a successful doctor, doing a great deal
for the health of the community. But perhaps he was best known as a
preacher. He spent many years preaching and practicing medicine.
The last years of his life were given entirely to the ministry.

All the Strickling family became successful teachers. F.E.
served as County Superintendent of Schools in this county and is
now Postmaster at West Union. James, after teaching for a time,
graduated from Bethany College. He studied law and became a well
known lawyer, and a member of the State Legislature, serving as
Speaker of the House during a late session. His home is in
Huntington.

Roads

At first the roads in Nutter Fork Community were mere paths or
trails. As necessity demanded, they were widened so as to permit
the use of vehicles, the earliest of which was the ox-sled.
Gradually the network of roads extended over the entire section as
settlers filled up the country.

But the community cannot even today, boast of good roads. There
is no hard-surfaced road at this time. The old "Pike" which follows
the course of Middle Island (generally) has been graded, and will
be paved as a State road in the near future. Also the Rock
Run-Poverty road is graded and may be paved later. Except, these
two roads are still narrow, crooked, ill-graded affairs.
Automobiles use them for a few months in summer. In winter they are
mostly mud holes, well nigh impassable for man or beast. Chances
for road improvement seem quite remote.

In justice to those in charge of the roads, it should be added
that there is an oil field in this community which necessitates
hard usage of roads. Dirt roads, and wet weather in an oil field
mean mud. Nevertheless, mail is delivered every week day over these
roads.

Churches

Methodist Episcopal
During the earliest pioneer times there seems to have been no
churches here. Religious services were held from house to house
among the Christian settlers. (Some of course were not church
members.) A few years later a log church was built by the Methodist
Episcopal people at the mouth of Slaughter Run. This served the
residents of Middle Island and lower Nutter's Fork country for a
long time. The building has now completely disappeared.

Rev. Bolton was one of the early preachers. Rev. King and Rev.
Wiley were also Methodist Episcopal preachers in this community.
Benjamin Knight, one of the first two settlers on Nutter's Fork,
was a local preacher of this faith, as well as a successful farmer.
The ruin of his second residence, a substantial story-and-a-half
hewed log house, which later became the first home of William
Freeman and wife, still stands, a mute witness of his industry and
early life in the wilderness. Probably there may have been another
early Methodist Episcopal church on upper Little Flint, though no
definite knowledge of its existence is known to the writer.

In more recent times (1879) the Red Oak Methodist Episcopal
Church was built on Upper Nutter's Fork where it still serves the
people over a large area. It was founded by a band of earnest
Christian people whose influence for good still flows from its
modest portals.

"Uncle" William Vincent, father of Rev. Joseph I. Vincent, (well
known Methodist Protestant preacher) worshiped here for many years.
Who in the community does not remember Uncle Billy's shouting, as,
steadying himself with his faithful cane, he stood up and told of
his hope of heaven and the love of his blessed Master! He was more
than ninety years of age when he passed on, at his daughter's home
in West Union, a few years ago.

B.P. McClain, who now resides in Parkersburg, was an influential
member and class leader in this church for years.

Rev. Arnett of the Smithburg charge, has been the pastor during
the past two or three years. He goes elsewhere next year
(1928.)

Among the charter members of Red Oak church are the following:
Edgar Davisson and family, Jacob Swentzel and family, George
Chapman and family, Wm. Ashburn and wife and P.B. McClain and wife.
Chapman was the first leader.

United Brethren
The first United Brethen church of which there is any account was a
log structure erected near the present site of the Camp Post Office
on Camp Mistake.

Among its early preachers, was noted Rev. Zebedee Warner. Rev.
Moses Weekley, the first settler on Slaughter Run, was a local
United Brethren preacher. He was an uncle of Bishop William Weekley
who grew up just across the line in Tyler County and became one of
the greatest United Brethren churchmen in America. No doubt, this
old log church was the church home of the young Wm. Weekley in his
Boyhood. It's ruins were removed only recently.

The United Brethren church at Fairview, Tyler County, now fills
the place of this historic structure.

Baptist
It is not known that the Baptist people built any church in this
community. They held meetings at the old Rock Run Hill school house
and also at the Haymond School near the recently constructed
Crystal Lake. This is said to have been the earliest school in the
community.

Rev. Woods and Rev. Drummonds were two early Baptist preachers
in this part of the country. Rev. Josephus Ashburn was a local
preacher of much influence, as well as a prominent teacher of the
early days. Keeping a diary was one of his hobbies. If this old
book can be located, it will give a detailed history of the early
Piggin Run settlement.

The Baptists have no church here. Some of that faith here, are
connected with the West Union church.

In the Cedar Run neighborhood there are a number of Seventh-Day
Baptist folk who are among the best citizens. They have no local
church, but are affiliated with the Seventh Day Baptist Church of
Salem. James Ford and his wife, Talitha, were among the early
bearers of this faith in this section.

Christian
Many years ago-the teachings, of the great preacher, Alexander
Campbell, were brought to this community where they spread rapidly
among the people. Rev. Dunn was the first, perhaps, to sow the
seeds of the Christian (Disciples') faith among the residents of
Arnolds Creek in Tyler County whence it came to this community. No
church was built here by these people until 1907, when the present
building was erected near the mount of Chipps Run. In the early
days religious gatherings and church services were held in the
homes of some of the devout people. The home of Eleazer Freeman,
Sr., father of the late Wm. and Joseph Freeman, was used as a place
of public worship. Later, after the building of the old log school
house at the mouth of Pine Run, it became the center of religious
activity among these Christians. This was prior to the Civil
War.

When the old log school was abandoned for a frame building, the
latter served as a church.

Later the present school house was so used. Among the early
preachers here were the Rev. Daniel Sweeney, Dr. William
Strickling, Rev. Streeter and Rev. Mitchell.

Rev. John Waters, another old-time preacher, used to come from
the Deep Valley section to preach in these later school buildings,
many years ago. For the past half century Rev. Thomas J. Smith has
preached both here and elsewhere.

Not many of the names of the pioneer Christians are known.
Eleazer and Betty Smith Freeman, William and Margaret Doak Smith,
Hiram and Sarah Ann Doak Smith, Isaac and Sarah Ann Corathers
Smith, Rev. William and Matilda Lowe Strickling, Thomas H. and
Rebecca Robinson McKinney, were a few of the early Disciples. Today
their descendants are scattered to many parts of the country.

Such is the brief outline of the community church history. From
the "little grains of mustard seed", as it were, have grown the
great trees of religion and morality to shelter the community from
the evil of the world.

Perhaps the churches have not done as well as they should
always; perhaps they are not doing so now. Lack of efficient
leadership has been a hindrance sometimes. Petty prejudices,
neighborhood feuds, and factional fights have been great drawbacks.
(What community does not have them at times?) Yet, what would our
community be without church influence? Who can picture the
benighted condition of a country without the ennobling and
uplifting influence of religion?

Rural Routes, Telephones, And Other
Conveniences

A little more than twenty years ago a Rural Free Delivery Route
was established from West Union. (The writer took the first step
toward establishing this Rural Route, having ordered the petition
forms later circulated by her brother Walter Smith and her husband,
J.L. Corathers.) It serves a large part of the community. Some are
served by the Middle Island Star Route, and a few by Camp Post
Office.

Many years ago there was a post office at Knight, how Ora
Underwoods place, but it was discontinued after the rural mail
route became operative. O.G. White, Geo. L. Swentzel, and Jack
Williams were postmasters there. Some found it more convenient to
use the West Union office. When a neighbor went to town he took the
outgoing mail to the post office and brought back what was there
for these folks. Many times some of it was misplaced for several
days or lost entirely. Rural delivery has proved more
satisfactory.

The first telephone line was a part of the old Beeghley System
built in the early nineties. After it had fallen into disuse the
Peoples' Union Telephone Company built lines here. It later became
the D. and H. System. Though its service has been very irregular,
it has been a great help to the people. A part of the community is
now served by the Bell Telephone System.

Since radios have come into common use, several have found their
way into our section of the country. Through their use the
community has been brought into direct contact with the outside
world. The daily weather report is a popular feature with the
farmer, as well as with the motorist.

Speaking of motorists a large percentage of local people own
their automobiles, but because of dirt roads most of these machines
must remain in the garages during the winter months.

One of the very first to drive a motor vehicle over local roads
was Wesley Owens, who carried mail on the Rural Route some fifteen
years ago. About that time two farmers , Marion O. Davis and W.
Frank Smith purchased Ford cars-the first owned in this community.
These cars were objects of curiosity to several, just as were the
first wagon and buggy of pioneer times. Tom Bond, Sr., who lived
across the creek from Slaughter Run, was the first here to own a
buggy, while Israel Kinney was probably the owner of the first
wagon in this part of the country. Hiram Smith bought the
second.

Although most of the local homes today are supplied with modern
gas or coal ranges for cooking, it is only a few decades back
through the days of the little "Indianola" and step-stove, to the
time when a "Dutch oven" (skillet and lid) and a few iron pots were
the housewife's "modern" conveniences for cooking. These she used
at the open fireplace.

The first cookstoves of which there is any record were owned by
Thomas Smith, Sr., and his son, William. Aunt Margaret's pancakes,
baked on the new stove, were a source o fwonder and delight to the
youngsters of seventy to seventy-five years ago.

The homes of the well-to-do people in those days were lighted by
tallow candles made in the home. The poorer folks depended upon the
tallow dip (a piece of cloth in a saucer of grease) or upon the
firelight tin, for their illumination. There was no kerosene.

The first /lantern in this section was owned by Eleazer Freeman,
Sr., whose young son, Joseph, proudly carried it from church, while
the other young men carried pine torches to light the pathway of
themselves and their sweethearts.

Lettie Bond Gorby had one of the first (likely the first) sewing
machines in this section.

The first parlor organ here was in the home of Dr. William
Strickling, while the first piano graced the home of James
Ford.

No modern "sweeper" cleaned the bare floors of the pioneer home.
Not even a broom of straw, but one of "splits," pushed the dirt
into the fireplace or out the doorway. (This broom was made from a
small sapling).

The one-post bed gave way to the old "cord" bedstead, which in
turn was supplanted by the bed of wooden slats. The cord bed had a
"basket-woven cord support for the straw tick. This was topped by a
feather tick. The trundle beds for the children were pushed beneath
the "big beds" during the day while a wooden cradle held baby's day
bed.

Home made "split bottomed" chairs were the rule.

Schools

The schools in many ways resembled the early homes. They were of
the pioneer type with crude home-made furniture and
widefire-places. The benches consisted of split logs with wooden
pins for legs. There were no desks. A shelf along one side served
as a writing desk. Blackboards were unknown. The rod, symbol of the
Master's authority, occupied a conspicuous place within easy reach.
Textbooks were few, while a school library was undreamed of.

The first school in this community was the old Haymond school
near "The Bog". Rev. Josephus Ashburn was one of the teachers
here.

A little later about 1855 a log cabin school was created at the
mouth of Pine Run near the present Isaac M. Smith homestead. It
served the needs of the neighborhood until the establishment of the
free school some time after the close of the Civil War.

Among the early teachers of this school were Wm. Greene, James
Hovey, Dr. Wm. Strickling, and Jennie Miller. The latter taught the
first free school here. Soon after, a frame building was put up on
the site of the present Pine Run School. In 1892 or 1893 the old
frame structure gave place to the present one which has been
somewhat improved this year by the addition of a cloakroom.

More than thirty teachers have gone out from Pine Run to do
their part of the world's educational work. Among the best known of
these are the Stricklings.

The old Good Hope School which stood on the top of Rock Run hill
was constructed in 1868. Here also, some excellent teachers
received their first schooling. Among them were the Ashburn boys.
Some early instructors in this old school were Josephus Ashburn,
James Strickling, Richard Noble, and P.B. McClain. When this old
school was discarded there was one built on Piggin Run, and also
one at the foot of Rock Run hill on Nutter's Fork. These are still
used.

Among the educators turned out of these schools were O,A,
Ashburn, ex-State Senator, and Prof. Clarence Asburn, of the
Huntington schools, from Piggin School, and Professors W.H.S. and
H. Laban White, from Nutter's Fork.

A school was built on Camp Mistake soon after the close of the
Civil War. Little of its early history is known. The present Camp
School took its place many years ago. The Pratts, Freemans, Scotts,
and Brittons were among the successful teachers from this
school.

The Cedar Run, Knights Fork, and Slaughter Run Schools, all of
which are products of Cedar Run, the Spencers of Knights Fork, and
the Wolvertons of Slaughter Run School. (Among the latter are
Professor Howard M. Wolverton, of Adamston High School. Wayne R., a
railway mail clerk, Dr. Wolverton, dentist, and Mrs. Ada McIntire,
teacher.)

Although the schools are far from modern now, they compare
favorably with other rural schools of Doddridge County. Better
furniture, libraries, equipment, and decorations have been added
from time to time as conditions permitted. One thing sadly lacking
is the sanitary toilet.

The foundation of the educational system here, is base upon the
pioneer work of the Ashburns, the Stricklings, and Professor John
Wilson who taught in this section many years ago.

Politics

Nutter's Fork Community is known as precinct no. 2, of West
Union magisterial district; familiarly called the "Solid North".
The "North" is not quite so "solid" now as it was a few decades
ago.

The wise voter now splits the ticket as he thinks best
regardless of party. An interesting story is told of how one
Republican changed politically. Some years ago this voter declared
he would vote Republican ticket no more because he had unknownly
cast his ballot for a colored man for State Committeeman. He
couldn't knowingly support a Black Republican.

Another old gentleman, whose political strength was stronger,
"scratched" the name of a candidate on his ticket because he could
not bring himself to vote for that particular man. Did he vote for
the opponent? Not he. "I don't want the sin of voting for a
Democrat on my conscience", he remarked in all sincerity.

More and more the people here are coming to see that it is the
"man" and not the party label, that counts in local politics.

The political prejudice of some of the older people against the
Democratic party seems to have been founded in Civil War times. In
this particular community at that time Democrat and Rebel
sympathizer were nearly synonymous terms with many people. And no
where were people more loyal to the Union than in this community,
as a list of local Union soldiers will show. So far as can be
learned not a single man here became a Confederate soldier.

A conservation between a loyal Democrat and a good old doctor
who had served his comrades during the dark days at Andersonville
prison well illustrates the current viewpoint. "Doctor, all
Democrats are not Rebels. There is a great difference." "Well."
exclaimed the irate doctor, "maybe they're not". But the rebels
laid the eggs that hatched the d_____things." And he believed
it!

Another hopeful sign locally is less ballot corruption than
there were 30 or 35 years ago.

The time was when the smooth-tongued politician could flatter
the women, kiss the babies, milk the cows, and with the aid of a
dollar or two, gain the vote of an entire family.

In pre-Volstead days the unscrupulous vote getter provided a keg
of whiskey (and sometimes beer or cider) which was placed in some
secluded spot near the voting place. Here his equally unscrupulous
henchman saw to it that "doubtful" voters were thoroughly "soaked"
(if they could be induced to drink) and then voted according to his
wishes. When it was considered necessary to pay cash for certain
votes on election day, a bribed poll clerk chosen by the aforesaid
office seeker, signalled to a confederate outside that So-and-so
had voted properly and was to receive the specified sum. This does
not refer to the majority, but to the floating vote, which often
decided the contest.

It is not likely that this community had any more illegal voting
than others, yet, there is a marked improvement in this respect,
due largely, no doubt, to Woman Suffrage and Prohibition.

But all of woman's political influence is not in the ballot, as
the following incident shows:
Several years age a popular factional leader sent a roll of
currency to an honest old farmer friend in this community with
instructions to use it "to the best advantage". Now, as it
happened, the package fell into the hands of the farmer's wife who
was shocked beyond measure. Without waiting for he better-half to
assure her that he had no intention of using the money to buy
votes, she opened fire. "If you buy votes with that, I hope they
put you in jail and feed you on cornbread and water! I don't care
if it is my own man, or my boy, the person who buys votes or sells
them either, deserves to go to jail. And I'll report you, if you
do!"

Community Work

Still another hopeful sign for the future of Nutter's Fork
community is the organization of a "Community Council," the object
of which is the all-round betterment of conditions. About one year
ago in the fall of 1926, this community work was started here by
County Agent, E.D. Curry and the Home Demonstration Agent, Miss
Adele Bigelow. A Country Life Conference was held recently, the
community being scored at that time. The score was 560 points out
of a possible 1000.

The boys and girls have a Four-H Club, too which is doing good
work. It's members have won several prizes.

As the writer see it, the future of this community depends
largely upon the work of the organizations previously mentioned.
Then let everybody get to work, individually, and in cooperation
with his neighbors, to lift the Nutter Fork Community to a higher
place.